The process under the Wales Act 2014 that enables the Welsh Government to introduce new taxes in areas of devolved responsibility subject to approval from the National Assembly for Wales and both Houses of Parliament, will be tested for the first time with the formal proposal for a vacant land tax going to the UK Government later this year. The work to gain the powers is only a first step, the development of detailed policy proposals will follow involving engagement with stakeholders and the public in accordance with the Welsh Government’s tax policy framework.

From April 2018, Land Transaction Tax (LTT) will replace UK Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in Wales. A number of suggestions by CIOT to make it work in practice have been included in recommendations in a Welsh Finance Committee report.